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University of Nebraska–Lincoln

The School of Biological Sciences

Dedicated to Excellence

 
Jay F. Storz
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
 PhD, Boston University 2000

320A Manter Hall
402.472.1114
jstorz2@unl.edu
Storz Lab
 

Research in Evolutionary Genetics

The primary focus of my research is the genetic basis of adaptive evolutionary change. The main goals are to understand (1) the role of selection in shaping patterns of adaptive genetic variation in natural populations and (2) the role of selection in driving the functional diversification of multigene families.

Molecular Population Genetics of Adaptation

In my lab we are studying functional genetic variation in natural populations of deer mice (genus Peromyscus), leaf-eared mice (genus Phyllotis), house mice (genus Mus), and other rodents to elucidate genetic mechanisms of physiological adaptation to different environments. We are especially interested in mechanisms of physiological adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia. To this end we are currently studying the molecular evolution of protein-coding genes involved in oxygen transport, oxygen storage, and aerobic energy metabolism. For example, one of our main projects involves a study of hemoglobin polymorphism that underlies adaptive variation in blood biochemistry and aerobic metabolism among deer mice that are native to different altitudes. We are currently conducting surveys of DNA sequence variation in the duplicated globin genes of deer mice from different mountain ranges across western North America. The goals of this project are to determine how patterns of adaptive genetic variation are shaped by the interplay between selection, recombination, and gene conversion, and to assess the relative importance of different modes of selection in maintaining balanced polymorphism at interacting genes.

Evolution of Duplicated Genes and Multigene Families

A second area of research involves a genomic analysis of gene family evolution. Gene duplication can result in the acquisition of novel protein functions in cases where one duplicate copy retains the original function of the ancestral gene while the other copy accumulates new mutations that adapt the encoded protein to a new or modified physiological task. This specialization of function may entail changes in tissue specificity, developmental regulation, and/or biochemical properties of the protein. The globin superfamily of genes provides an excellent example of the kind of physiological versatility that can be attained through functional and regulatory divergence of duplicated genes that encode different subunit polypeptides of the same multimeric protein. For example, in amniote vertebrates, hemoglobin has been optimized for oxygen transport under the vastly different physiological conditions encountered during the embryonic, fetal, and adult stages of development. We are currently using a comparative genomic approach to study the evolution and functional diversification of the globin gene families in birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. The goal of this project is to test different hypotheses about the role of positive selection in the evolution of duplicated genes and the acquisition of new protein function.

Recent Publications

  • Opazo, J. C, F. G. Hoffmann, and J. F. Storz. 2008. Differential loss of embryonic globin genes during the radiation of placental mammals. (in review)
  • Storz, J. F., and J. K. Kelly. 2008. Effects of geographically varying selection on nucleotide diversity and linkage disequilibrium: Insights from deer mouse globin genes. (in review)
  • Gering, E. J., J. C. Opazo, and J. F. Storz. 2008. Molecular evolution of cytochrome b in the rodent genus Peromyscus: Tests of adaptation to contrasting thermal environments. (in review)
  • Storz, J. F., and H. Moriyama. 2008. Mechanisms of hemoglobin adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia. High Altitude Medicine and Biology, 9: xxx-xxx (in press).
  • Campos, R., J. F. Storz, and N. Ferrand. 2008. Evidence for contrasting modes of selection at interacting globin genes in the European rabbit. Heredity, 100: xxx-xxx (in press).
  • Opazo, J. C, F. G. Hoffmann, and J. F. Storz. 2008. Genomic evidence for independent origins of β-like globin genes in monotremes and therian mammals. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 105: 1590-1595.
  • Storz, J. F., F. G. Hoffmann, J. C. Opazo, and H. Moriyama. 2008. Adaptive functional divergence among triplicated α-globin genes in rodents. Genetics, 178: 1623-1638.
  • Hoffmann, F. G., J. C. Opazo, and J. F. Storz. 2008. Rapid rates of lineage-specific gene duplication and deletion in the α-globin gene family. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 25: 591-602.
  • Storz, J. F., M. Baze, J. L. Waite, F. G. Hoffmann, J. C. Opazo, and J. P. Hayes. 2007. Complex signatures of selection and gene conversion in the duplicated globin genes of house mice. Genetics, 177: 481-500.
  • F. G. Hoffmann, and J. F. Storz. 2007. The αD-globin gene originated via duplication of an embryonic α-like globin gene in the ancestor of tetrapod vertebrates. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 24: 1982-1990.
  • Storz, J.F., S.J. Sabatino, F.G. Hoffmann, E.J. Gering, H. Moriyama, et al. 2007. The molecular basis of high-altitude adaptation in deer mice. PLoS Genetics, 3: e45, 0448-0459. [selected by Faculty of 1000]
  • Storz, J. F. 2007. Hemoglobin function and physiological adaptation to hypoxia in high-altitude mammals. Journal of Mammalogy, 88: 24-31.
  • Storz, J. F., and H. E. Hoekstra. 2007. The study of adaptation and speciation in the genomic era. Journal of Mammalogy, 88: 1-4.
  • Storz, J. F., H. R. Bhat, J. Balasingh, P. T., Nathan, and T. H. Kunz. 2006. Evolutionary dynamics of the short-nosed fruit bat, Cynopterus sphinx (Pteropodidae): Inferences from the spatial scale of genetic and phenotypic differentiation. Pp. 248-268 in Functional and Evolutionary Ecology of Bats (Zubaid, A., G. F. McCracken, and T. H. Kunz, eds). Oxford University Press: New York.
  • Storz, J. F. 2005. Using genome scans of DNA polymorphism to infer adaptive population divergence. Molecular Ecology 14: 671-688.
  • Storz, J. F. , B. A. Payseur, and M. W. Nachman. 2004. Genome scans of DNA variability in humans reveal evidence for selective sweeps outside of Africa . Molecular Biology and Evolution 21: 1800-1811.
  • Ramakrishnan, U., J. F. Storz, B. L. Taylor, and R. Lande. 2004. Estimation of genetically effective breeding numbers using a rejection algorithm approach. Molecular Ecology 13: 3283-3292.
  • Storz, J. F. , and J. M. Dubach. 2004. Natural selection drives altitudinal divergence at the albumin locus in deer mice, Peromyscus maniculatus. Evolution 58: 1342-1352.
  • Storz, J. F. , and M. W. Nachman. 2003. Natural selection on protein polymorphism in the rodent genus Peromyscus: evidence from interlocus contrasts. Evolution, 57: 2628-2635.
  • Storz, J. F. , and M. A. Beaumont. 2002. Testing for genetic evidence of population expansion and contraction: an empirical analysis of microsatellite DNA variation using a hierarchical Bayesian model. Evolution, 56: 154-166.
  • Storz, J. F. , U. Ramakrishnan, and S. C. Alberts. 2002. Genetic effective size of a wild primate population: influence of current and historical demography. Evolution, 56: 817-829.
  • Storz, J. F. , M. A. Beaumont, and S. C. Alberts. 2002. Genetic evidence for long-term population decline in a savannah-dwelling primate: inferences from a hierarchical Bayesian model. Molecular Biology and Evolution , 19: 1981-1990.
  • Storz, J. F. 2002. Contrasting patterns of divergence in quantitative traits and neutral DNA markers: analysis of clinal variation. Molecular Ecology , 11: 2537-2552.
  • Storz, J. F. , H. R. Bhat, and T. H. Kunz. 2001. Genetic consequences of polygyny and social structure in an Indian fruit bat, Cynopterus sphinx, I. Inbreeding, outbreeding, and population subdivision. Evolution, 55: 1215-1223.
  • Storz, J. F. , H. R. Bhat, and T. H. Kunz. 2001. Genetic consequences of polygyny and social structure in an Indian fruit bat, Cynopterus sphinx, II. Variance in male mating success and effective population size. Evolution, 55: 1224-1232.
  • Storz, J. F. , J. Balasingh, H. R. Bhat, P. T., Nathan, A. A. Prakash, D. P. Swami Doss, and T. H. Kunz. 2001. Clinal variation in body size and sexual dimorphism in an Indian fruit bat, Cynopterus sphinx (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 72: 17-31.
  • Storz, J. F. , U. Ramakrishnan, and S. C. Alberts. 2001. Determinants of effective population size for loci with different modes of inheritance. Journal of Heredity, 92: 497-502.
  • Storz, J. F. 2000. Variation at tri- and tetranucleotide repeat microsatellite loci in the fruit bat genus Cynopterus (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae). Molecular Ecology , 9: 1198-2200.
  • Storz, J. F. , J. Balasingh, P. T. Nathan, K. Emmanuel, and T. H. Kunz. 2000. Dispersion and site-fidelity in a tent-roosting population of the short-nosed fruit bat (Cynopterus sphinx) in southern India . Journal of Tropical Ecology, 16: 117-131.
  • Storz, J. F. , H. R. Bhat, and T. H. Kunz. 2000. Social structure of a polygynous tent-making bat, Cynopterus sphinx (Megachiroptera). Journal of Zoology ( London ), 251: 151-165.
  • Storz, J. F. 1999. Genetic consequences of mammalian social structure. Journal of Mammalogy, 80: 553-569.
  • Storz, J. F. , and Kunz, T. H. 1999. Cynopterus sphinx. Mammalian Species, 613: 1-8.